GOOD START BY YOUNGEST CANDIDATE

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1946, Page 6

GOOD START BY YOUNGEST CANDIDATE

-Press Associatioh

:By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Nov, 7. Tho National Party 's '22-year-oId nominee for Ponsonby, Mr. P. Dempsey, youngest candidate Ln New Zealand at the coming election opened his campaign ausiiiciously last niglit when he addressed one o±" the largest po'liticai meetings held in the district for many years. The address was given in All Saints ' Hall and the aeeoinmodation was overtaxed to such an extent that people crowded in the doorways, along the "walls and on the steps to' the stage. Those unable to gain admittance gathered outside the entrauces, being able to follow the speech througli the ampliher used by the candidate. ' The total attendance was estimated to exeeed 600. To a large extent the meeting captured the atmosphere of the old-time political meeting with its interjections, its humour and its general liveliness. Although Mr. Dempsey had Jtlie soiid backing of a majority of the audience, there was pienty of opposition particularly from the back of the hall. Coniments, quips and questions frequently interspersed the earlier stages of the address and on several occasions the ehairman, Alr. J. W. Kealy, called for order and fair play. On his lihal warning he suggested that the interruptions were organised, a suggestion that was ' vociferously denied. In spite of his laek of platform experience, Mr. Dempsey spoke strongly and eonhdently and was in no way disturbed by the interjections. In many qases he turned the eommentii to his own benefit. Mr. Dempsey diseusse'd the Labour Pp.rty'3 socialistic poliey and its effeets, and also .gave a Jetailed aeeount of various points -iii the National Party. 's programme. He made a special feature of the need to eliminate class-con-sciousness in New Zealand and the necessity for bringing about better in'dustriul relations. Making uo apologv for his youthfulness, he gained applause in one instance when he was able to tuni this factor to his advantage. Accused by au interjeetor of being a meniber of the party that was in power during the depression he retorted that surely he eould not be held responsible for conditions at that period. Applause lasting a miuute followed the conclusion of iiis address itnd the audience sang "For Iie's a Jolly Good Fellow. " A vote of thanks was carried without dissent.